Fernando Clavijo gave two Rapids players Stephen Keel and Kosuke Kimura their first MLS starts both on the defensive line. On a rainy night in Salt Lake City the two began well as they both controlled the ball and defused Real attacks in the early going. Kimura became the first Japanese player to appear in a game in MLS history when he took to the pitch.

Jacob Peterson nearly put the Rapids up in the fifth minute. Medhi Ballouchy won a ball in the midfield and sprung the speedy forward on an attack. Peterson dribbled past a couple of defenders and took a wide-angle shot that beat Nick Rimando but went just wide of the post.

Peterson had another goalscoring opportunity in the 20th minute. Terry Cooke whipped in a left-footed cross that the Indiana product headed down but Rimando was there to make the save.

Kyle Brown scored for Salt Lake on an unassisted goal in the 30th minute. Chris Brown took a shot that Bouna Coundoul saved while sprawling with an outstretched left hand. The rebound came to Kyle Brown who finished the play.

Coundoul did well to keep the difference to one in the first five minutes of the first half. After blocking a Chris Brown shot Kimura went to clear the ball but it deflected off Brown and Coundoul made a diving save.

The Rapids had their best scoring opportunity of the second half in the 84th minute. Jose Cancela took a free kick that Rimando had to dive to keep from equalizing the score. The ball bounced to Jovan Kirovski who crossed the ball. Keel slid to meet the ball but was not able to redirect the ball on goal.

The Rapids will finish this two-game road trip as they face the New England Revolution on this coming Saturday September 29. The game will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on Altitude Sports and Entertainment.